When the Cardiff Blues fly-half, Nicky Robinson, announced this year that he was off to Kingsholm next season, it looked like an upward career move for the 27-year-old Wales international. The Blues had not won a trophy in their six‑year existence as a region while Gloucester were sitting on top of the Premiership.
Fast forward a few months and it does not seem such a smart idea. The Blues face Leicester in the Heineken Cup semi‑final at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday having already won the EDF Energy Trophy after putting on 50 points against Gloucester at Twickenham in April. The Cherry and Whites, meanwhile, suffered a ruinous end to their campaign, failing to make the Premiership play-offs and prompting the club's chairman, Tom Walkinshaw, to launch a review that threatens the future of his director of rugby, Dean Ryan, the man who signed Robinson.
"It is funny how things change," said Robinson, who has been put on stand-by for the Lions tour to South Africa after impressing for the Blues. "When I signed with Gloucester, everything looked pretty good over there. They seemed to have a pretty steady squad and management. The picture in sport can alter very quickly, but what is happening at the club is out of my control. I have no regrets: Gloucester have a group of players up there in Europe, one of my reasons for going there, and I am sure they will be back to where they should be next season.
"I have been through some tough times with the Blues and some may think it is a strange decision to leave now, but I simply wanted to experience something else having spent all my career in Cardiff. I thought that playing in a different league and experiencing a different culture would give me that extra push and help me improve as a player. I am thoroughly enjoying my rugby and playing somewhere near my best, but you have to push yourself.
"Not being in the Wales squad has been disappointing and my move to Gloucester should not be seen as an acceptance by me that my international days are over. I spoke to the Wales management and they said that going to England would not remove me from their thoughts. If they had said they would not pick me, that would have put a different light on it. I hope to make the tour to America this summer because it is a few years since I pulled on the red jersey and being put on stand-by for the Lions gave me a huge lift."
Robinson, whose elder brother and fellow Wales international, Jamie, is off to France in the summer, has reflected the Blues over the years, maddeningly inconsistent, which explains why he has won just 12 caps. But he has been at his controlling best in recent months as the Blues mounted their first serious assault on Europe and Leicester will have noted that a team renowned for its flakiness has become multi-dimensional.
Gloucester, who lost twice to the Blues in the Heineken Cup pool stage, could not handle the region's pace and power at Twickenham, while the week before, victory against Toulouse to take the Blues through to their first European semi-final had been achieved through an aggressive defence and dogged determination.
"Sunday will be a huge occasion," said Robinson. "You do not get many opportunities to reach a Heineken Cup final. Once I had decided to join Gloucester, I wanted to finish my final season with the Blues on a high. I have been here a long time and the region means a huge amount to me. We have already won trophy, but I just want to make the most of the opportunities that remain for me. There would be no greater high to finish on than winning the Heineken Cup: if that happened, a few tears may be shed."
And then it would be off to win over the Shed, refuge of the Kingsholm faithful.
